Gender roles will be temporarily reversed as Diamond Bar High School prepares for its first Sadie Hawkins Dance since 2009. Ladies are expected to ask their male classmates to the dance.

Many boys, such as senior Derek Peng, are glad to be relieved of the responsibility of asking a girl to the dance. Though Peng still prefers Prom and Homecoming because these events are what he’s used to, he’s excited to find that girls are taking the initiative in seeking their own dates to the dance.

“[Girls] can choose who they want to go with, instead of rejecting guys left and right,” Peng said.

Another senior, Hamilton Lin, doesn’t have a preference on who asks whom, but thinks Sadies is an opportunity for girls and guys to experience what it’s like to break tradition, although he doesn’t think most girls will rise to the occasion.

“[Girls] can understand the pressure of the guys, but I feel that barely any girls would ask this year because most of them aren’t used to it,” said Lin.

The Sadies dance is a welcomed change for girls as well. Freshman Celina Hu sees the dance as a positive change as it provides girls an opportunity to do something unconventional without appearing off-putting to guys.

“It’s different, I guess, but it’s good because girls never get a chance to ask the boys without it seeming weird. Now we get to be treated the same,” said Hu.

All three Brahmas disagree on who should pay for the dance. Lin maintains that the guy should pay, while Peng feels girls should pay for the event. Hu, the only girl of the bunch, feels that it’d be best for both partners to go dutch— each person responsible for his or her ticket.

Hu prefers a more casual approach, a kind of informal request that takes place during a routine conversation. On the other hand, Lin thinks that the approach must be as unique as the person himself and a public display can be very effective. Peng suggests an approach that involves food.

Yet, students find themselves concerned with the possibility of rejection. Peng feels that it is undoubtedly harder for guys and adds that “there probably won’t be an influx of girls asking out just one guy,” which gives the girls a better chance of getting a date. However, Hu argues that guys are usually more insensitive so it would be easier for them to say no.

The tables have turned this year at DBHS, if only for one dance. The next time you see asking posters pop up around campus, it will be the girls who are behind it all.